Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:38 pm on 17 July 2019.
Thank you. You raise three points, so let's start with agricultural pollution. I've announced that it is my intention to introduce regulations. I didn't really want to do that, but I don't think the voluntary initiatives have worked in the way that we would want, and we've seen far too many agricultural pollutants—we had another one just at the end of last week. So, I will be introducing the regulations to address agricultural pollution in January of next year. I will be working with stakeholders, to develop the regulations, so I'm sure we will cut out as much bureaucracy as we possibly can, and red tape, and I will certainly listen to concerns as to how we can simplify the regulations.
In relation to rural crime, I'm committed to tackling wildlife and rural crime in Wales. You'll be aware there's been a very long-standing rural crime team in north Wales; I'm now very pleased there's one in Dyfed-Powys too. I think also the Wales wildlife crime and rural affairs group, which has been set up, do some valuable work, which I really appreciate, and they are very committed to working with Welsh Government and police forces. Again, I would just urge farmers and other rural businesses to ensure their equipment is locked up. I've been on many farms myself where the farmers have embarrassingly pointed out to me that the keys shouldn't be in the quad bike, for instance. And I think, again, they—[Interruption.] Well, I don't think they do it now; I think they've realised that that was something that they need to do to, just as we all do, in relation to our own property.